Choosing an outfit? I've got you...
Choosing an outfit to wear to a session is generally the hardest part of your shoot. Most people don't have family shoots very often and so getting it right is imperative and it is the thing that I get the most messages about.
I have a few hints and tips to get you started.
First, comfort is so important. Especially if you have young children. Wear something comfortable but not too casual and not too dressy. Smart casual is an excellent guide! If you are uncomfortable that will come through in your photos. If your children are uncomfortable they are more likely to focus on that than relaxing and having fun.
Earth Tones always looks gorgeous and they are always my go to recommendation. See my colour swatch below for some colour ideas. The neutral tones come through so nicely and the earth tones always sit well in almost all backdrops.
Wear something with sleeves to avoid drawing attention to your arms. Under arm creases can be very unflattering so I strongly recommend sleeves even if they are capped sleeve make sleeves your best friend! The only exception for this is children.
Avoid clothing like tracksuit pants and really short shorts. Avoid formal wear unless this is a formal event. It is important that everyone in the family wears a similar style of outfit, and by that I mean we don't want someone turning up in tracksuit pants and joggers and someone else turning up in a formal dress. It doesn't mesh, so make sure you all vibe!
Long shorts or pants work well for men and young boys. Loose fitting pants always look nice and have a more timeless look. Collared shirts also photograph really nicely on men and boys.
Flowey dresses look lovely on young girls. Especially when they have a good twirl on the skirt. I love nothing more than a good twirl shot!
If you are bringing along a toddler please remember a nappy cover if they are going to wear a dress.
Stick to a similar colour palate but avoid matching outfits. Jeans and white or black shirts are a trend that was really popular recently, but white is awful to photograph as it picks up and reflects the surrounding colours, and matching outfits is very dated. If you'd like to match maybe think about matching shoes or matching hairstyles. IF you do decide to go with matching outfit colours make sure the outfits are different and not exactly the same, different styled shirts in the same colour etc.
Avoid bright colours like orange and red. Please avoid bright bold colours in your joggers, it really draws attention to the shoes instead of the gorgeous family. My only exception to this rule is at Christmas time.
If you only take one thing from this blog let it be this - avoid branded clothing or clothing with slogans on the front, especially big slogans. They never photograph well unless you are in an advertising campaign for that brand.
At the end of the day, it is your shoot, so wear something that reflects you as a couple/family. I can work with whatever you come along in and I look forward to having you!
